Meet the Core 4 Champions: Tabatha Sustaita-Robb

Tabatha Sustaita-Robb has been in education for 32 years and with Dallas ISD 11 years, the last four of which she has worked as a Library and Media Services coordinator.  

What attracted you to education? 

I knew in sixth grade that I wanted to be a teacher with the help of Mrs. Lowry, my fifth- and sixth-grade social studies teacher at Lenore Kirk Hall Elementary School. Her passion and love for the subject and her students inspired me to follow in her footsteps.

Why do you think the district’s culture tenets are important? 

The district’s culture tenets are important because they help to create a positive, inclusive, and effective environment. They also help guide our decisions and actions, contributing to the overall success of the district.

Is there a time when one of the Core 4 tenets made a difference for you or someone else? 

After my husband passed away, it was Robert Abel who made a difference in my family’s life by exhibiting all the Core 4 tenets. Mr. Abel assisted me with information the insurance was requesting quickly, friendly, focused on what I needed and who could help me and I’m sure flexible since this was an unexpected request. Thank you, Mr. Abel!

What is your go-to Core 4 tenet and why? 

I think for many of us in education our go-to core 4 is flexibility. There are so many things that happen in and out of school that are out of our control that we have to be flexible and do the best that we can in our daily walk.

Is there something your coworker would be surprised to know about you? 

I think my coworkers would be surprised to know that our former Superintendent Michael Hinojosa was my seventh-grade P.E. coach and interviewed me for my first teaching job when he was head of HR in a nearby school district.